Buying guide
Cordless lamps: choosing a rechargeable light
A cordless lamp goes where no socket reaches: the middle of the dining table, a bookshelf, the wall beside the bed. It brings soft, atmospheric light with no trailing cable. It helps to know what you gain, what you trade for it and how to keep it in good shape. Here is our practical advice.
Why choose a cordless lamp
A plug-in lamp depends on the nearest socket. So it always ends up in the same place, usually in a corner, with the cable on show. A cordless lamp turns that around: you decide where you want light first, then put the lamp there.
- In the middle of a room: on a dining table, a kitchen island or a console away from the wall, where an extension lead would look messy.
- In small spaces: an alcove, a bookcase, a windowsill, with no drilling and no cable to hide.
- If you rent: no changes to the wiring.
- From room to room: the same lamp lights dinner, then reading in the living room, then the bedroom.
A cordless lamp does not replace your main lighting. It is accent and mood light, best combined with a pendant or a ceiling light.
Battery life and charging
Both of our cordless models charge via USB: the cordless fabric lantern lamp and the cordless wooden wall light. In practice, a phone charger or a laptop USB port is all you need.
Battery life is not a fixed number: it depends mainly on brightness. A lamp on full power runs down much faster than one dimmed for dinner. Our product pages do not quote a runtime, so the simplest approach is to notice, in the first week, how many evenings one charge lasts with your own use, then make charging a habit (every Sunday, for instance).
- Keep the cable close: in a sideboard or bedside drawer, near where the lamp is used most.
- Charge during the day: the lamp is ready in the evening, when you need it.
- The wall light lifts off: the wooden model is held by a magnet, so you take it off its wall plate to charge it, then click it back.
Warm light, and dimming if you can
A cordless lamp is mostly used in the evening to set the mood. Choose warm white light, around 2700 to 3000 K, close to candlelight or a classic bulb: it flatters wood, linen and ceramic and stays pleasant at the table. Cool light quickly feels like an emergency lamp.
Dimming is the other big plus. On the cordless wooden wall light, you switch on and adjust the brightness with a touch: bright for reading, very soft as a night light. Turning it down also makes the battery last longer. The fabric lantern gives a warm glow through its ecru fabric, with no visible hot spot.
Where to use it, room by room
On the bedside table
A cordless lamp on the nightstand means no cable hanging behind the bed, and you can move it from one side to the other. If you read for a long time every night, a plug-in bedside lamp is still more convenient, since it never needs charging: see our bedside lamps.
On the dining table
This is where going cordless really pays off: low, warm light in the middle of the table at face height, with no lead across the floor. The fabric lantern comes in a round (Ø 25 cm) or tall (Ø 20 cm) version, 26 or 35 cm high. On a long table, two lanterns spaced apart work better than one. Add a few candle holders for a dinner lit entirely by soft light.
On a shelf or console
Placed in a bookcase or on a hallway console, a small lamp warms up a corner the ceiling light never reaches. Leave a little space around it and do not wedge it between books: the fabric should stay taut and clear.
Outside on the terrace?
A cordless lamp makes you want to eat outdoors. Our product pages do not state a water-resistance (IP) rating, though, so if you take it outside, do so in dry weather, under cover, and bring it back in afterwards. No rain, no dew, no nights outdoors.
On the wall: a cordless wall light with no rewiring
Many people look for a wall light with “no drilling”. In reality, a cordless wall light still attaches to the wall, but without an electrician or channelling cables. On our wooden wall light, a plate fixes to the wall, the light clicks onto it magnetically and swivels 360° to aim the beam. Ideal beside a bed with no power outlet. For mounting height, see our guide to bedroom wall lights.
Which material to choose
The material shapes how the light spreads, but also how heavy and stable the lamp is, which matters for something you carry around.
- Fabric and wood: light and easy to carry from room to room, fabric stretched over a wooden frame gives a very soft light. That is the choice for our cordless lantern, in ecru and dark wood.
- Solid wood: warm and understated on a wall. The cordless wall light comes in pale beech or walnut.
- Ceramic: heavier, so very stable and hard to knock over. In our range, ceramic is used on plug-in lamps such as the ceramic pot lamp with a linen shade, best kept near a socket.
- Rattan: the weave casts patterns of shadow. You will find it on our rattan bedside lamp, which is also a plug-in model. To tell the fibres apart, read rattan, wicker, raffia and seagrass.
- Glass: it gives a crisper, brighter light but is more fragile: for a lamp you move often, pick a material that forgives the odd knock.
In a Japandi or wabi-sabi interior, a fabric and dark-wood lantern sits naturally alongside matte ceramic and washed linen.
Looking after the battery
Any rechargeable battery wears with time, but a few simple habits help it last:
- Avoid running it flat again and again: recharge before the lamp switches itself off.
- Keep it away from heat: do not leave it in full sun behind a window or next to a radiator, whether charging or not.
- Not using it for months? Store it partly charged and top it up now and then.
- A charger in good condition: use the supplied cable or a reliable USB charger, and follow the instructions for your model.
- Cleaning: with the lamp off, wipe the wood with a dry cloth and dust the fabric with a soft brush.
Frequently asked questions
Cordless or plug-in lamp?
A cordless lamp wins on freedom: dining table, shelf, a wall with no socket. A plug-in lamp wins on comfort for long daily use, with no charging. Many homes have both.
How long does a charge last?
Mostly it depends on brightness: the dimmer the light, the longer the lamp runs. Our product pages do not quote a runtime, so keep an eye on your own use for the first few days.
Can I charge the lamp while it is on?
Check the instructions for your model. If in doubt, charge it during the day so it is ready in the evening.
